Editors Become More Complex

If you've forgotten about Editors, it's time to be reintroduced.

Almost five years after more than fulfilling their label as NME's "Next Big Thing," the British post-rock quartet have been steadily chugging along in the music world, perfecting their dynamic live show and putting the final touches on their third release, In This Light And On This Evening.

If you live over the pond, you'll have had this album in your hands back in October; for us North Americans, it came out mid-January 2010. Why the strange delay?

Editors drummer Ed Lay isn't talking.

"I don't know if I should answer that question," he says with a laugh, eschewing any further details. "It wasn't our choice, really, but in fact, it turned out in a nice way for us — because we can go and play these songs for what would be like the first time again. We've already been playing them all over the U.K., so it kind of gives us another opportunity to start the process with this record again.

"We've become more advanced at playing the new songs now, and have become a little more settled in with how we want them to be live. This gives us another crack at the whip, I think."

Not that Editors need a whole lot of practice in the live gigging department. They've been playing major festivals across the U.K. for the last few years, as well as tackling North America on previous tours. As for this upcoming jaunt to the United States and Canada, Lay promises the show will be "an equal mix of all three records."

"It's great to have a back catalogue that you can use to vary your set, rather than have a very monotonous-sounding set based on one record.

"Also, we've got loads of new gear. It's been a right pain in the ass trying to get it out to far-flung places," he notes with a laugh.

"But there's a lot of movement, a lot of new equipment on stage and people using new instruments. I think it's a lot more exciting than it's been before."

As for those new songs, the scope of sound on In This Light is much more complex than on previous Editors ventures. It takes their signature epic anthems and vaults them even higher by using more synthesizers, electronica and multiple layers of instrumentation. The result is something even more grandiose than past albums, yet still maintaining the dark, foreboding tone passionate Editors fans would definitely expect.

"They've received the new album really well," says Lay of the band's fanbase. "We appreciate that for some people, especially fans of the last record, it's a lot to ask of — to be considerate of anything unlike what we've done before.

"But I think our fanbase really appreciates that we haven't just copied ourselves in a diluted manner. They're happy that we're writing songs where we're trying to break new and interesting ground."

Put on your black coats and catch Editors here:

Feb. 5 Seattle, WA @ Showbox at the Market
Feb. 6 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
Feb. 8 San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre
Feb. 9 San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues San Diego
Feb. 11 Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
Feb. 13 Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
Feb. 15 Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre
Feb. 16 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
Feb. 18 Boston, MA @ House Of Blues Boston
Feb. 19 New York, NY @ Terminal 5
Feb. 20 Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
Feb. 21 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
March 6 Lincoln, England @ Engine Shed
March 7 Preston, England @ Guildhall
March 8 Bradford, England @ George's Hall
March 10 Glasgow, Scotland @ O2 Academy Glasgow
March 11 Dundee, Scotland @ Fat Sam's
March 12 Inverness, Scotland @ Ironworks
March 13 Aberdeen, Scotland @ Music Hall
March 15 Newcastle Upon Tyne, England @ O2 Academy Newcastle
March 16 Manchester, England @ Apollo
March 17 Cambridge, England @ Corn Exchange
March 19 Bournemouth, England @ O2 Academy Bournemouth
March 20 Brighton, England @ Dome
March 21 Cardiff, Wales @ Cardiff University
March 23 Folkestone, England @ Leas Cliff Hall
March 24-25 London, England @ O2 Academy Brixton
March 28 Portsmouth, England @ Guildhall
March 29 Liverpool, England @ Philharmonic Hall
March 30 Birmingham, England @ O2 Academy Birmingham
April 29 Paris, France @ L'Olympia
April 30 Antwerp, Belgium @ Lotto Arena
May 1 Amsterdam, Holland @ Heineken Music Hall